Friday 27 July 2012

TANZANIA

                                  

DAR ES SALAAM
The Tanzania Republic has a population of 27.8 million.  The country is a size of 939,760 sq km.
Tanzania is in the middle of Africa and on Africa’s lower east coast.  On the south border is Kenya and on its east border is Zaire.  It also borders on Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.  The country has three huge lakes which are part of its border.  The Victoria Lake is in the north.  The Tanganyika Lake in the south and Malawi Lake is in the south-west.  Lake Malawi is in the Great Rift Valley which is a huge crack in the Earth surface and is from north to south through East Africa.
LANDSCAPE AT THE
 NORTHERN TANZANIA
 INSIDE THE RIFT VALLEY
From the Rift Valley rises a plateau of 100m above sea level.  The plateau is most of Tanzania but slops steeply towards the coastal plain.   This area has forest which creates a hot and humid climate.  Inland is where the savannah plains stretches endlessly.  Here from horizon to horizon isn’t a man-made thing to be seen.  There are not many places which offer this experience.  The savannah is hot and dry and has an average temperature of 25oC all year round.  From March to May is the rainy season.  The huge baobab trees, which grow there, are perfect because they store water in their trunks.

SAVANNAH, AT NGORONGORO RESERVATION


On the savannah live a wide variety of animals.  An ever increasing number of tourists come there to watch elephants, lions, zebra and many other animals, as well as birds.   The annual migration of the wildebeest in the Serengeti is also a great attraction.   Serengeti means wide open space in Masai.  The language is used by the local people.  The largest of the game reserves in Tanzania was named Serengeti.   The country established many game reserves totalling up to 25% of Tanzania.  It has the largest proportion of game reserves in the world. 

The mountain Kilimanjaro is also a favourite tourist’s destination.   It has a height of 5895m and is Africa’s highest peak.  It is made up of three volcanoes which are extinct.  The highest peak is called Uhuru and in the Swahili language it means freedom.   It is part of the Northern Highlands which is on the border with Kenya. 
Their main industry is tourism and the other agriculture.  Millet, maize, cassava, beans and sweet potatoes are grown on the plateau.  For the export market they grow coffee, cashew nuts and cotton. 
                                                                                                             Tanzania has 120 tribal groups and they herd cattle outside the reserves.  The most famous is the Masai who were warriors and lived right across the savannah.  The other well known tribe is the Swahili who live along the coastal plain and their language is spoken all over East Africa. 

The capital of Tanzania is Dodoma but the government seat is in Dar es Salaam.    Dar es Salaam was founded in the 19th century and the name is Arabic which means ‘haven of peace’.

ZANZIBAR

On the island of Zanzibar, which is part of Tanzania, came and stayed many people from far away.  The island is made up of coral and has a hot and humid climate.  .The neighbouring island is called Pemba.  They had Arab rulers for many years and it reflects in their religion and architecture.   Later on they were under Indian and after that Portuguese rule.   Zanzibar was also called the spice island.  It is the world’s biggest exporter of cloves

In the Olduvai George, which is closed to the Serengeti National Park, a human skull was found in 1959.  Test established that is was 1.75 million years old.   The same team came upon humanoid footprints preserved in volcanic ashes of the Ngorongoro Crater.  Up till now they are still the only records of human walking upright and on two feet.  The archaeologists are convinced that this part of Africa is the birthplace of modern humans’ ancestor. 
LION - SERENGETI RESERVE

Friday 13 July 2012

TUNISIA



TUNIS THE CAPITAL OF TUNISIA -- 
THE GRAND NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE.

Tunisia is more or less the size of England. It lies on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa. The more fertile country is in the north and east and behind this area a plateau rises to the 1,500m Atlas Mountains. Between the fertile land and the Sahara Dessert are the salt pans which are named Chott Djerid.
On a whole the climate is warm and dry. However, there is still a difference between the milder Mediterranean climate in the north and the much hotter south.
On the northern hills are forests growing of oaks and cork trees. In the area of the Mediterranean climate are wheat, grapes and olives grown. The Sahara desert is only for growing date palms and only near oasis. Lately an experiment of growing tomatoes and melons using the hot springs was very successful and adding to the economy.

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In 1956 Tunisia became independent from France. The first president Habib Bourguiba improved the economy tremendously. Tunisia began to prosper under his leadership.
AGRICULTURE
Half of the population working in agriculture. At the beginning of 1990 they had very good harvests which helped the farming communities. Their main exports are cereals and olive oil. The country also has oil and gas and a small amount is exported. Another income comes from the Trans-Mediterranean pipeline from Algeria. The pipeline delivers gas to Italy. Italy is only 140 km away across the Mediterranean from Tunisia. .Another good export is Phosphates which comes from tried-up lakes and is supplied to the fertiliser industries in large quantities.
Tunisia has a great problem with their agriculture. It has too many small farms and the young people leaving it and moving into the big cities hoping for a better live. The big cities already having great unemployment it increases disappointments.
Traditional fishing boats are in the east coast port of Mahdia. It started in the 10th century by a Shi'ite Muslim leader known as Mahdi. He built a city, port and a great mosque there. After that he move on and went to built Cairo in Egypt.
                                               THE GREAT MOSQUE AT KAIROUAN

                                               CARTHAGE -- UNESCO HERITAGE SITE


ROMAN MOSAIC IN CARTHAGE


HISTORY
The Berber was the ancient tribes of Tunisia. They were and are nomadic people and still living in Morocco and Algeria. The other ancient people who influenced Tunisia were the seafaring Phoenicians from around 1200 BC. The came from today's Lebanon.
A legend tells that the Princess Dido sailed in 814 BC from the Lebanese city Tyre. When she landed on Tunisia's coast she created the city Carthage which means New City. The Carthaginians were very successful in not only building a great trade but with that a great empire. Their trade routes went as far as the British Isle in the north and in the west along the African coast.

HANNIBAL WAS BORN IN CARTHAGE

Carthage was also the home of the great and legendary general Hannibal. Hannibal took in 218 BC his elephants and army from Spain over the Alps and tried to conquer Rome. He failed narrowly and Tunisia became part of the Roman Empire. Today, Carthage is a suburb of the capital Tunis.


ROMAN  AMPHIT  THEATRE  IN  DOUGGA

The Roman built an amphitheatre at Dougga which lies in the northern hills of Tunisia. Today it is Tunisia's most impressive ruins. They also built many great houses with magnificent mosaic floors and ornamental details.  Due to the dry climate most of it had been preserved.
During the 7th century AD Tunisia was conquered by Muslim Arabs. They went across North Africa and Kairouan. This city is in the north-east of Tunisia. It soon became the holiest Islamic City in the area. Even today they are pilgrimages and the city is known as the city of mosques.



In the far south is a village called Ezzahara which has the distinct granaries (ghorfas) built by the Bedouin tribe. These fortified villages called ksar were very strongly built to keep our marauding tribes.
The Barbary Coast, during the Middle Ages, began in Egypt and ended in Morocco. Muslim pirates called corsairs used mainly the rocky coastline of Tunisia.  They attacked from here Christian Ships all along the Mediterranean. They were powerful and the two most famous pirates were the Barbarossa brothers. They were so powerful that they took over Tunis in the 16th century.
In the Middle Ages Tunisia was conquered by the Turkish Ottoman and became from the 16th century part of the Ottoman Empire. However, since it is an impossibility to keep such an enormous empire under perfect control. Tunisia did not have the full protection. Therefore, in 1881 it was conquered by the French. Their ruling lasted till 1956 when Habib Bourguiba demanded and achieved independence for his country.
Habib Bourguiba was a very successful president and led the country to good economic growth. However, in 1987 he was 'quietly retired'. The next president was Zinc Ben Ali and population pressure, unemployment and religious extremism ended in today's revolt.

Monday 9 July 2012

LIBYA

TRIPOLI --
CAPITAL OF LIBYA 



                          




Libya was always known and used as the
gateway to Africa,

In the north it has a beautiful Mediterranean coastline. In the east it borders onto Tunisia and Algeria. In the south is Niger and Chad and on their west Egypt.
The country is mainly covered by the Sahara Desert apart from the north where the fertile area is along the Mediterranean Sea. It has three provinces. Tripolitania in the north-west, Cyrenaica in the north-east and Fezzan in the barren south.
Libya's agricultural land is a narrow strip along the coast. Most of the population lives there too. After a nomadic life in the Sahara dessert they settled there to escape the hard life in the desert.
Near Tripoli, in the north-west, are the lower mountains of Jebel Nefusa. Opposite, along the north-eastern borders, near Benghazi, is the Jebel Akhdar or so called Green Mountains because they are covered with low growing trees and shrubs. In the south are the remote Tibesti Mountains with the highest range of 2280m is The Bette Peak. This mountain range also separates Libya from Chat
                                   JABAL AL AKDHAR


CLIMATE
The climate of Libya is hot during the day and cold at night. A typical desert climate. A record shows that in 1922 temperatures reached in the town of Aziza a 57oC (138oF) and that was only in the shade. In the southern desert is a wind called ghibili which is strong and dry. It collects fine sand and slowly carries it northward. This makes the sky look red. The little rain which Libya has falls only in the mountain ranges of Jebel Akhdarand Jebel Nefusa. The wildlife exists only of jackals, jerboas (dessert rodents) and gazelles. More common are eagles, vultures and hawks.

ECONOMY
Libya was, for centuries, considered as one of the poorer countries in the world until they discover in 1958 the oil. Nowadays Libya is the second-largest oil producer in Africa. 90 per cent of their export is oil and gas.
In 1983 began a Great Man Made River Scheme. It pumps water from under the Sahara desert and supplies the farmland near the coastal strip. After that, Libya was able to grow more food and could reduce the import. The import accounted for 80 per cent of the country needs. The main crop along the coast-line is olives, grapes, wheat, barley and almonds. In the desert oases dates and maize (corn) are grown.

CAVE PAINTING


ARCH SEPTIMUS SEVERUS

 IN LETIS MAGNA
http://www.awltovhc.com/image-2103840-5902068http://rover.ebay.com/roverimp/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=10&pub=5574636337&toolid=10001&campid=5335845462&customid=2180312-13080050&uq=Libya+DVD&mpt=61355497
HISTORY
The Sahara Desert which covers 90 per cent Libya was lush with green vegetation about 10,000 years ago. There were lakes, forest, wildlife and a Mediterranean climate. Archaeologists discovered that the coastal planes of Ancient Libya were inhabited by Neolithic Berbers in around 8000 BCE. Those tribes domesticated cattle and grew crops.
Rock painting by the Wadi Mathendous can be seen in the mountainous region of Jebel Acacus. It shows grassy plateaus and wildlife of Giraffes, elephants and crocodiles.
There are small groups of Berbers still living in today’s Libya.
Another Ancient civilization was the Garamates, based in Germa. They were a Saharan people and originated from the Berber. They had knowledge of an elaborated underground irrigation system and established a kingdom in the today's Frezzan area. It is thought they lived in around 1000 BCE and had local power between 500 BCE and 500 CE.
630 BC Ancient Greeks established a settlement there and founded a city Cyrene. During the 200 years they built four more important Greek cities -- Cyrenaica now Al Marj -- Euhespendes now Benghazi -- Teu Chira now Tukrah -- Apolionia now Susah.


BENGHAZI
A PANATHENAIC AMPHORA
 OF THE
ANCIENT GREEK

 FOUND IN BENGHAZI

Cyrene became the greatest intellectual and artistic centre of the Greek World at that time. It had a famous medical school, academics and architectures. All the time the Greek managed to hold back the Egyptians in the east and the Carthaginians in the west.
However, in 525 BCE the Persian army lead by Cambyses II conquered Cyrene and kept it under their rules for 200 years.
Alexander the Great recaptured Cyrene in 331 BCE.
Libya is along the Mediterranean coastline and therefore was always attacked by invaders from powerful empires. The first settlers were Phoenicians. The city of Leptis Magna was one of three settlements in Tripolitania.
In the first century AD when the Romans invaded the country; Leptis Magna was one of the main centre of the Roman Empire's North African provinces.
In the 7th century the Arabs invaded Libya and brought with them Egyptians, Syrians and Spaniards.
It wasn't until the 16th century when the Ottoman Empire conquered Libya and they established proper rules and it became more settled. The Ottoman Empire controlled the country till the 20th century.
Italy invaded in 1911 the area, at the end of a period where many other European countries conquered much of Africa. Under the Italian rule the Tripolitania and Cyrenaica provinces were united in 1933 and with that Libya became established. The Italian ruled till 1951 and then gave the country independence and King Idris began to rule.


KING IDRIS
The king was dethroned by a young colonel, Muammar Gaddafi. He renamed the country the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (nation of the people).Gaddafi has a unique policy to say the least. He tried to bring socialism and Islam together. The West accused him a number of times of terrorism. In 1986 the USA bombarded Tripoli because of it.
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Sunday 8 July 2012

ISRAEL




JNF FORESTS

IN JERUSALEM'S HILLS
GEOGRAPHY

Israel was once called Canaan, Judea, The Holy Land and Palestine. It is incredible that it’s sacred to three -- one God -- religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Geographically seen Israel is a long strip of a country. On the West bounded by the Mediterranean Sea. On the east are the Great Syrian-African rift valley and the Red Sea to the south. It borders on Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt.
Most of the population live in the north and centre of Israel. It is divided into a costal plain in the west, the valley region in the east and in the centre of Israel the mountain range.
On the northern side is Israel highest mountain Mount Hermon, 2224m high. In the south are the deserts Negev a dArava.
Israel's climate is a dry, warm summer from April to October and mild winters. In hillier regions, such Jerusalem, have cooler and drier climate.
              
                                  KNESSET -- 
                        THE ISRAEL PARLIAMENT



CHURCH OF TRANSFIGURATION 

ON THE MOUNT TABOR
WILDLIFE
Due to these good climate conditions Israel has a great migrating bird’s population. In and around Eilat you can find honey-buzzards, white storks, sparrow hawks and spotted eagles. In the region of the Upper Galilee are white pelicans, storks, raptors and ibis flying around. The wildlife in the desert is stone curlews, sand grouse, jackals and gazelle. In the mountains of the north are redstart, rock nuthatch and hermon-horned lark.


ECONOMICS
Israel's main exports are mainly citrus fruits, vegetables, wheat and poultry. These get produced on kibbutzim special communities where everything is shared. 2.4 per cent of the population lives and works on kibbutzim.
Israel's major industries are medical electronics, telecommunications, agro-technology, computer hardware and software. However, the top industry is diamonds. Another important industry is tourism which amounts up to two million visitors each year.

THE WESTERN WALL AD DOME OF THE ROCK -- JERUSALEM


MASADA IN THE JUDEA DESERT -- A NATIONAL SYMBOL

HISTORY
After the Holocaust Jewish people were asking for a place of their own.
The UN split Palestine into two parts in 1947. One side for the Arabs and the other part for the Jews. However, the Arabs did not want to loose their homeland.
The British rules ended in 1948 and the Jews called their land Israel. It took only one day and the Arab armies from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Egypt marched into Israel. A hard fought battled followed with many dead and 250,000 Arab-Palestinian fled the country. Eventually in 1949 a cease fire was declared. Israel gained more land as was allocated to them in 1947.
Israel joined in 1949 the UN and a Law was established that every Jews has the right to live in Israel. However, the conflicts between Arabs and Jews increased and the result was further major wars.
The first was in 1956 between Egypt and Israel over Sinai
The second war was in 1967 and latest six days after a blockade of the Tiran Straits by President Nasser.  A massive built up by Egypt and Syrian troops along the Israeli border. Nasser was aiming to destroy Israel. Israel defeated Egypt, Syria and Jordan gaining the West Bank and east Jerusalem from Jordan. Also the Sinai Peninsular and Gaza Strip from Egypt.
Egypt and Syria invaded Israel in 1973 on Yom Kippur but were defeated again.
In 1979 Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty in Washington, USA and with that ended a 30-year long war.
In 1989 Israel held out its hand to end all the wars with Arab states and recognizing their leaders. Also for the first time they had direct talk with the Palestinian leader. A great break-through came when Israel started to negotiate with Palestine and their leader Yasser Arafat. Israel recognized the Palestinian Liberation Army (PLO) and return Arafat guaranteed peace and security.July 1994, King Hussein of Jordan and Prime Minister Rabin of Israel shook hands on the lawn of the White House and which ended a 46 year long war between the two countries.

Saturday 7 July 2012

ALGIERS

ALGIERS -- CAPITAL 
AND MOST IMPORTANT PORT
GEOGRAPHY
Algeria, the largest of the Arab country in North Africa. Two-third is covered by the Sahara Desert which influences the climate greatly and it is therefore a hot, dry climate.
In the north it has a coastline along the Mediterranean. On the east it borders on Tunisia and Libya. On the west on Mauritania. On the south it borders on Niger.



ORA
CONSTANTINE


ANNABA

Along the Mediterranean is a strip of fertile land called the "Tell". The Tell is where 90 per cent of the population lives mainly in the four major cities -- Algiers, Oran, Constantine and Annaba. Between the Tell and the Sahara Desert are the Atlas and Aures Mountain ranges. Behind that the Sahara Desert starts. The sand moves continuously forming unstable sand dunes. They can reach up to a height of 250m.


AURAS MOUNTAINS

Algiers's climate has a staggering 43oC during the day and at night 10oC in the desert. However, in the rest of the country it is between 12oC and 34oC all depends on the season.

Algiers’s wildlife has in the north jackals, wild boar, hyenas and gazelle, In the Sahara desert are horned vipers, scorpions and camels.
The Qued Ablod gorge cuts through the Aures Mountains. It is a lifeline for several smaller communities. Behind that fertile strip there is hardly a place to be found for drinkable water.
.

GRAND POST OFFICE

ECONOMY
Algerians farmers live on small farms along the coast. They mainly grow wheat. The steamed grains are used for making their favourite dish -- couscous. Other crops are vines, olives and dates. Algeria is the third-largest date producer in the world. On the drier pastures they herd goats, sheep and cattle.
Algeria's most important export is oil and gas. It was discovered in 1958. It counts 90 per cent of Algeria's export. The majority of the wells are deep in the Eastern Sahara. The oil and gas is piped through to the ports of Algiers, Oran and Annaba. The country also has mineral deposits such as iron ore, lead, zinc and mercury which are also exported.
The port of the capital Algiers is very busy. The port was built on the hills overlooking the harbour.  It exists since Roman times and had been used ever since.
El Qued is an oasis and it is a fertile piece land in the desert where fruit and wheat are grown. Dwellers of oasis and nomads gather in the El Qued market to trade their produce such hand-woven baskets and home grown dates. 



.
       THE TUAREQONCE CONTROLLED ONCE CENTRAL SAHARA DESERT AND ITS TRADE.




ROMAN ARCH OF AT THAMUGADE


BARBARROSA HYDREDDIN PASHA

HISTORY
Algiers was always attacked by powerful invaders through the small coastal strip. In 1200 BC the Phoenicians invaded Algiers but found that settlements of Berber were already there.
In 800 BC the Carthaginians invaded the country and after that the Romans, Vandals and Byzantines.
During the 7th century the Muslim religion was introduced through an Arab invasion.
During the 16th century Algiers was invade by the Ottoman Empire and was part of Turkey till the 19th century. During this time the port of Algiers was used as a safe haven for the dreaded Barbary pirates who were feared in the whole of the Mediterranean. They kept it in their power for three century.
In 1830 the French attacked them with military force and by 1902 they had Algeria under their control.
In 1954 the Algerian National liberation Front started a fight for freedom. It lasted long and one million people died.




MONUMENT OF THE MARTYRERS TO COMMEMORATE THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

In 1962 Algeria achieved its independence and many French people left but even today you can see a strong influence on their way of life.
Even today, Algeria has great political problems. In January 1992 the military took control just as the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) would have won the general election and imprisoned the leaders. Ever since an undeclared civil war is going and thousands have been killed.

MOUNTAIN  OF  CHREA  NEAR  THE  CITY  OF  BLIDA